Why do wounds take so long to heal? How to treat non-healing wounds

Poorly healing wounds are a serious problem. They may indicate the presence of a pathological process in the human body. There are many reasons for this condition. Skin restoration after damage occurs in several stages, which can be influenced by various factors.

An important role in the healing process is played by the state of immunity, the presence of chronic diseases, and timely provision of first aid.

If wounds do not heal well, something is missing in the body, or some process is affecting the skin. The main factors that can affect the healing of injuries are:

  • infections. After an injury or during wound treatment, pathogenic microorganisms can enter the wound. This condition is characterized by increased body temperature, the appearance of suppuration, red stripes on the skin, swelling and severe pain. Treatment consists of cleansing, killing bacteria and suturing. In advanced cases, a blood transfusion may be necessary;
  • diabetes mellitus In diabetes mellitus, skin lesions heal very poorly. This occurs due to swelling of the extremities and poor circulation, which subsequently limits the nutrition of cells and contributes to the weakening of the immune system. In this case, a scratch can develop into a large wound. First, the lesions crack and dry out, then purulent processes begin, the wound turns red and hurts. This problem can be eliminated only by starting treatment of the underlying disease. Such wounds must be treated with antiseptic agents and special ointments with antibacterial properties;
  • age. Older people experience many health problems that negatively affect tissue repair. In such cases, treatment consists of cleansing, irrigating the wound and antibiotic therapy;
  • lack of vitamins in the body. Poorly healing wounds may be a consequence of vitamin deficiency. Most often, the problem of vitamin deficiency occurs in children. With such a problem, any abrasion will heal poorly. This condition can occur due to a lack of calcium, zinc, vitamin A or B vitamins. These vitamins and microelements are actively involved in skin regeneration; if there are enough of them in the body, then any damage will heal quickly. Vitamin deficiency also causes hair loss, nails to break, and the condition of teeth and bones to deteriorate. Treatment should only be carried out by a specialist after a thorough examination. The doctor selects a complex of vitamins that the child lacks. Only eliminating the cause can speed up the healing process;
  • injuries after tooth extraction. This operation negatively affects the condition of the entire body. Injuries to the gums or bones may occur, and inflammation may develop. If inflammation begins at the site of tooth extraction, the wound does not heal, the temperature rises, severe pain, which cannot be eliminated with the help of painkillers, the gums swell and feel putrid smell from the mouth. If such symptoms appear, you must visit a doctor and begin treatment for inflammation immediately. In such cases, anti-inflammatory drugs, rinses with antiseptic solutions, vitamins, analgesics, and in some cases antibiotics are prescribed.

Other factors

The skin also heals poorly if there are circulatory problems at the site of injury, if there is inflammation in the body, with malignant processes, obesity or exhaustion of the body. The human immunodeficiency virus can also cause this problem. These problems affect tissue regeneration processes in the following ways:

  1. With poor blood circulation, the damaged area does not receive enough oxygen and useful substances, which he needs for normal scarring.
  2. Weak immune system. HIV, hepatitis, stress - these factors negatively affect the functioning of the immune system, and the body becomes defenseless against bacteria.
  3. Improper wound care. Those who are wondering why a wound will not heal should know that caring for the injury also plays an important role in this process. If the wound is not treated antiseptic If you do not apply a bandage, you may encounter an infection.
  4. Some types of injuries may not heal quickly. These include lacerated or deep wounds with a large distance between the edges.
  5. Certain medicines may slow down skin restoration processes. Aspirin and glucocorticoids have these properties.

Therefore, in order for the tissues to begin to recover normally, it is necessary to determine the cause of the problem and eliminate it.

Treatment methods

To avoid problems with wound healing, you need to know how to properly care for the damaged area. How quickly the tissues recover depends on proper treatment.

In case of damage skin necessary:

  • apply an antiseptic to the wound and the skin around it. Iodine and hydrogen peroxide perfectly eliminate the risk of infection. They should be in every person's home medicine cabinet. Before applying such products, you must wash your hands well with soap or wear sterile gloves, if available;
  • in some cases, it is necessary to consume within several hours after injury antibacterial agents. Only a specialist should prescribe such drugs;
  • a bandage must be applied to the wound. It is advisable to use materials that allow the skin to breathe. Experts recommend applying wet dressings and changing them twice a day;
  • if purulent processes begin, it is necessary to use an ointment that has pulling properties. Dressings are done at least three times a day. Vishnevsky ointment is popular for such situations;
  • in the absence of an inflammatory process, a drying gel can be applied to the damaged area to accelerate tissue regeneration;
  • It is important to eat properly so that the body gets all the necessary vitamins and microelements that affect wound healing processes.

Ointments for scar tissue

The entire healing process consists of several stages. These are: inflammation, regeneration and scar formation. Therefore, for recovery to be successful, it is enough to know which remedy and when to use:

  1. At the stage of inflammation, it is necessary to prevent infection. Ointments Levomekol, Levosin, Betadine, Nitacid, and miramistin ointment are suitable for this.
  2. At the second stage, discharge from the wound decreases and regeneration processes accelerate. At the same time, you can help the body with the help of such products as D-Panthenol, Bepanten, Actovegin.
  3. At the second and third stages, Rescuer ointment helps a lot. It consists of natural components and is approved for the treatment of children, pregnant and lactating women.

It should be remembered that when a purulent-inflammatory process develops, no ointments should be applied for several days. They may slow down the healing of the wound.

Streptolaven helps with burns and trophic ulcers. It is advisable to consult a doctor with such problems, since putrefactive processes in wounds can have serious consequences for the entire body.

Wound healing depends on many factors, taking into account the condition and the immune system human body, availability chronic diseases, as well as competent provision of first aid. Local problems

Often the reason long healing wound is infection of the wound, leading to the formation of purulent processes. To prevent this, you should know how to properly disinfect and how to treat a purulent wound in order to speed up the healing process as much as possible.

Immediately after damage, the following manipulations must be carried out:

Delete foreign bodies from the wound, if any;

Treat the wound surface and the skin around it with an antiseptic to prevent infection;

Use a sterile dressing for initial dressing. In the future, in order for the wound surface to heal faster, you should adhere to simple rules: . do dressings more often; . carry out antiseptic treatment, even if there is no infection - do not allow the wound to heal for a long time;

Stimulate healing with special medications that can create a protective film on the surface.

If you follow all the rules, the wound surface will begin to dry out, which is important factor for quick healing. Help her with this. There are wound healing agents for this. If development began purulent process, then, without delay, you need to consult a doctor who will advise how to treat a purulent wound and what other measures to take to effective treatment. The problem lies inside the body. If even the smallest wounds and scratches take a long time to heal, this may be due to internal problems body.

The most common of them:

Diabetes mellitus;

Skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema);

Oncological diseases;

Failure of the immune system;

Exhaustion;

Lack of vitamins and microelements.

If prolonged wound healing is observed even with proper primary treatment, it is necessary to urgently see a therapist who will take care of everything necessary tests and will reveal the reason. In some cases, for example, with diabetes, even a small scratch often leads to suppuration. If a wound on the leg does not heal, the cause may be impaired trophism.

It is important to know how to treat a purulent wound, since in diabetes mellitus not all medications have a positive effect. How to quickly heal a wound at home?

Rule 1. Careful processing and dressing. The procedure is carried out only with clean and dry hands. It is best if you pre-treat your hands with any disinfectant. It is recommended to carry out dressing in the morning and evening, treating both the wound surface and the skin around it.

Rule 2. Elimination purulent inflammation. Special ointments with a “pulling” effect or antibiotics will help clear the wound of pus. The main rule is that the bandage with the medicine should be changed at least three times a day.

Rule 3. Drying. If there is no inflammation, then drying gels are used, which promote rapid cell regeneration and lead to rapid recovery. If crusts have formed on the wound, then ointments will be effective. They create a special film that prevents additional damage.

The problem of long healing of various wounds is often a temporary phenomenon. For example, a person recently suffered from an acute respiratory viral infection, which resulted in disturbances in the immune system. However, if the problem of long recovery begins to become systematic, then this can be considered an “alarm bell” for immediate consultation with a doctor.

Scratches and wounds occur due to disruption of the anatomical integrity of the skin and mucous membranes as a result of mechanical stress. The most common cause of abrasions, scratches and wounds is careless handling of piercing and cutting objects at home and at work.


Poor blood clotting is the cause of long-term healing wounds

When the skin and underlying tissues are damaged, the blood vessels located there are affected, so wounds and scratches are usually accompanied by bleeding. Normally, blood stops being released after 1-3 minutes under the influence of platelets - blood cells, which have the ability to increase blood viscosity and “seal” the wound. If the bleeding does not stop, this indicates a violation of the blood clotting function. The cause may be leukemia, hemophilia, insufficient platelet activity, or taking anticoagulants. Poor blood clotting means that any scratch or wound will take a very long time to heal.

The influence of infections and diseases of internal organs on wound healing

Often the danger is not the wound itself, but its infection with pathogens. Bacteria usually enter the wound due to failure to follow first aid procedures.

First aid for wounds and cuts is removing foreign bodies, treating the wound surface with an antiseptic, and applying a sterile bandage.
Penetrated into subcutaneous tissue microbes provoke the development of an inflammatory process: the wound begins to fester, redness and swelling form around it, and the victim’s temperature rises. Suppuration leads to the fact that the wound healing period is significantly increased.

Sometimes wounds and scratches do not heal long time despite correct treatment. The reason in this case can be determined by the therapist, focusing on the results clinical trials. There are the following diseases and pathological conditions in which wounds and scratches heal poorly:
- diabetes mellitus;
- oncological processes;
- anemia;
- lack of vitamins and microelements;
- disturbances in the functioning of the immune system.

A person with these diseases has impaired metabolic processes in cells, which impairs the ability of tissues to regenerate. Sometimes prolonged healing of damage is a temporary phenomenon, which can be observed due to decreased immunity after ARVI and other infectious diseases. If the problem of recovery from injuries is systematic, you need to consult a doctor for a full examination and a correct diagnosis.

One of the varieties of this pathology are bedsores. Several processes may underlie slow wound healing:

  • the presence of a sluggish infectious-inflammatory process;
  • poor blood supply to the skin in the wound area;
  • availability serious illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, malignant tumors, malnutrition, immunodeficiencies, vitamin deficiencies, etc.
  • wrong debridement wounds.

For normal wound healing, several conditions are necessary: ​​sterility of the wound surface, proximity of healthy skin edges of the wound to each other, good ability of the skin to regenerate. In the absence of these conditions, the healing process is delayed. Small wounds usually heal without leaving a skin scar. Large wounds require significant efforts by the body to “grow” new tissue to replace the existing defect, which is why scars form. Scars, by the way, are more pronounced the more intense the healing process is. So, everything is good in moderation.

Inflammation of the wound caused by infection prevents the synthesis of new skin cells, so until it is removed, the wound will remain open. Therefore, it is so important to initially treat any wound with an antiseptic solution (see below) and if the defect is large in size (more than 1 cm), then it must be covered with a sterile bandage in the first days. At the same time, it is not worth keeping the wound under a bandage for a long time, since high humidity does not contribute to rapid healing.

The diseases listed above significantly impair blood supply to the area of ​​the wound defect and suppress the immune system, which fights infection in the wound. Therefore, treatment of wounds in these cases requires careful treatment of the underlying disease against which the injury occurs.

For good healing, certain vitamins are required that take part in regeneration. These include vitamins A and the B group of vitamins (B1, B2, B5).

Thus, treatment of poorly healing wounds is aimed at:

  • creating sterility;
  • improving blood supply to the wound area;
  • stimulation of skin regeneration.

Drugs used in treatment (as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision!)

  • Miramistin, Betadine, Desitin, Drapolene; Antimicrobial
  • Vitamins: dexpanthenol, retinol
  • Skin products: Curiosin, Iruksol, Solcoseryl, Actovegin
  • Antibiotics (ointments): Dalacin, Bactroban, Levomekol

Every person is familiar with injuries and wounds. For some people, wounds heal quickly, while others have to fight for a long time for their recovery. What is the reason for poor wound healing?

Wounds on the skin do not heal well if they become infected. Microbes can enter the wound not only during the injury (although this is most often the case), but also after. This can happen when the wound is being bandaged. Or the infection is transmitted through surrounding objects.

Wound infection is characterized by:

  • increased body temperature;
  • the appearance of red stripes;
  • subcutaneous suppuration;
  • severe pain;
  • swelling.

Treatment consists of special treatment, suturing, cleansing, and destruction of germs. In more serious cases, they may additionally prescribe blood transfusions and vitamin preparations.

At the pharmacy you can ask for a suitable ointment; there is now a wide selection of them and they are quite effective.

Diabetes mellitus

Skin damage does not heal well in people with weakened body strength. With such a common disease, wounds take a long time to heal. At first they may dry out, then crack and fester. Fast healing wounds on the legs are hampered by swelling of the lower extremities, which often accompanies diabetics.

Symptoms:

  • increased body temperature;
  • swelling, redness;
  • pain;
  • pus.

Treatment of skin damage in diabetes mellitus involves taking measures to combat the underlying disease, proper nutrition, treating wounds with an antiseptic, and using antibiotic ointments.

Old age

The duration of wound healing is affected by a person’s age. Older people often have diseases of the cardiovascular system, excess weight, poor clotting blood and other pathologies.

Non-healing wounds in old age are characterized by the following symptoms:

  • pain;
  • edema;
  • increased body temperature;
  • pus;
  • hot and red skin.

Treatment of skin damage in this case consists of cleansing the wound, fighting microorganisms, removing purulent accumulation, washing the wound, and antibacterial therapy.

Avitaminosis

Although this problem can occur at any age and cause longer wound scarring, it comes first in children, because they are less likely to develop other health problems.

A child’s wounds do not heal well if the growing body lacks the necessary vitamins and microelements. These can be calcium, zinc, vitamin A and B vitamins.

This condition manifests itself not only in prolonged wound healing, but also in brittle nails, hair, and poor condition of teeth and bones.

Treatment of vitamin deficiency in a child involves immediate contact with a specialist who will select a complex of vitamins. By eliminating the cause, you can count on rapid wound healing.

Trauma to gums and bones after tooth extraction

Tooth extraction (extraction) is a serious test for the human body. It may be accompanied by injury to the gums and bones. In this case, there is a risk of an inflammatory process. Then you can’t count on rapid healing of the wound.

The reason why a wound does not heal well after tooth extraction may be infection of the socket.

Some time after extraction, pain appears at the site of the extracted tooth and in the gum. It is not relieved by painkillers. Body temperature rises and swelling occurs. The patient appears general malaise, putrid odor, enlarged lymph nodes. Such symptoms indicate the presence of an inflammatory process.

If these signs occur, you should urgently seek help from a specialist. To quickly heal the wound, the doctor will begin to treat the inflammation. At the same time, the wound is washed antiseptic solution, a medicinal tampon is inserted into the hole.

Additionally, rinses, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, and analgesics are used. In some cases, antibacterial therapy is prescribed.

Other reasons

Poor wound healing occurs with the following health problems:

  1. Lack of blood supply at the site of skin injury.
  2. Inflammatory processes in the body.
  3. Oncological diseases.
  4. Obesity or wasting.

These diseases are accompanied by a significant decrease in immunity. Therefore, for rapid healing of skin damage, treatment of the underlying disease is required.

Vitamins A and B take an active part in skin regeneration. A sufficient amount of them stimulates wound healing. , chronic fatigue, as well as such bad habits, how alcohol and smoking can cause prolonged healing of damaged skin.

The process of wound healing depends on its nature. Puncture, purulent wounds require more careful care than injuries with sharp edges. The closer the wound is to the heart, the faster it heals.

In order for the wound to heal quickly, it is necessary to properly care for it, treat chronic diseases and promptly seek help from a specialist.

If the wound does not heal for a long time...

The period of greatest childhood traumatism

Parents and doctors call the age from 6 months to 3 years “the period of greatest childhood trauma.” At this age, children are actively exploring the world with the help of new skills that they have acquired, but are not yet aware of the risks associated with their actions. In this article I would like to draw your attention to the injuries that occur most often in children - various damages skin, from minor abrasions and scratches to more serious wounds.

First aid for minor wounds in a baby

Sepsis usually develops in cases where an infected wound does not heal for a long time. Therefore, increased pain or increased swelling and redness around the wound, continued suppuration should be a cause for concern. If the abscess opens up on its own and the pus begins to come out, this is good, and the wound will most likely heal quickly. However, this suggests that the abscess was not opened in a timely manner and there was a possibility of developing sepsis. In case of purulent infection of wounds and long-term non-healing ulcers, it is necessary to consult a doctor to prevent the development of sepsis and intensify treatment.

Normal wound healing

Diabetes mellitus

Skin damage does not heal well in people with weakened body strength. With such a common disease as diabetes, wounds take a long time to heal. At first they may dry out, then crack and fester. Swelling prevents rapid healing of leg wounds lower limbs which often accompany diabetics.

Poor blood circulation and, as a result, insufficient nutrition of skin cells do not allow wounds to heal quickly.

Symptoms:

3. Disinfectants:
Chlorhexidine Gifrer
Dioxidine ointment 5%
Dioxidine injection solution 1%
Dioxidine solution for injection 0.5%
Hydrogen peroxide solution
Potassium permanganate
Iodine alcohol solution 5%
Miramistin solution 0.01%
Sangviritrin solution 0.2%
Vagotil
4. Vitamins:

Vitamin C
Riboflavin mononucleotide injection solution 1%
Ascorbic acid tablets 0.05 g
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Retinol acetate solution in oil
Ascorbic acid injection solution 5%
Ascorbic acid tablets 0.05 g
Additiva vitamin C effervescent tablets with lemon flavor
Bepanten
Panthenol

5. Skin products:
Actovegin

6. Others:
Methyluracil ointment 10%
Methyluracil tablets 0.5 g
Suppositories with methyluracil 0.5 g

Treatment of wounds with folk remedies
Cover the wound with a layer of ichthyol ointment, layer potato pulp on top (it is better to take pink potato tubers - “American”). Dressings should be carried out daily, preferably in the morning.

Every person suffering from diabetes should monitor the condition of their skin and consult a doctor if any defects appear, since an infected wound is very difficult to treat.

Proper nutrition, containing sufficient amounts of vitamins, promotes rapid healing of the skin.

Any wound on a diabetic should be treated with an antiseptic.


The wound does not heal after tooth extraction

After tooth extraction, the process of normal wound healing lasts approximately 4 months. The edges of the gums come closer together, and at the same time, blood clot in the hole, which is replaced by granulation, then osteoid (bone) tissue. The process of normal healing of the hole is painless. On the 3rd day after removal, the first signs of wound epithelization appear. In the 4th month, a new bone, which over time acquires a normal spongy structure. With education bone tissue the edges of the socket and alveoli are absorbed by approximately 1/3 of the length of the root. Over time, the alveolar ridge in the area of ​​the extracted teeth becomes lower and thinner. Above the mouth of the hole it has a concave or wavy shape. In the absence of a blood clot, the socket heals as a result of the formation of granulation tissue from the bone walls of the socket. Gradually, the edges of the gum above it come closer together, the hole is filled with granulation, then osteoid tissue. Subsequently, the process of bone formation occurs in the same way as described above. In cases where the socket is infected or the bone or edge of the gum is injured during surgery, regenerative processes proceed more slowly. In these cases, an inflammatory process develops in the tissues surrounding the wound, so the onset of bone regeneration and wound epithelization is delayed. Very often, tooth extraction is resorted to when there is inflammation in the socket, so wound healing after the removal of such a tooth occurs at a later date than when removing non-inflamed teeth; instead of 3-5 days, the process takes 10-14 days. The first signs of bone formation appear on the 15th day. The resulting osteoid beams are layered on the walls of the socket. Epithelization of the wound is often completed only on the 30-50th day. As the wound is cleansed of dead tissue, granulation tissue grows from the walls and bottom of the hole. Only after 1.5-2 months. Most of the socket is filled with osteoid tissue, which will gradually turn into mature bone. A more significant delay in bone formation and wound epithelization occurs during traumatic tooth extraction with gum rupture and damage to the walls of the socket. In these cases, the edges of the gums do not come together for a long time.

Answer: first treat with hydrogen peroxide, then either green paint or iodine, and you don’t need to cover the wound with all sorts of bandages, bandage it if you’re at home, they don’t let it dry, the faster it dries, the faster it will heal, close it only if you go out somewhere.

Answer: This happened to me on my hand. It even started to rot. I tried different ointments... to no avail! Until the neighbor's doctor saw him. He told me to sprinkle it with streptocide powder. I bought it at the pharmacy, but it turned out to be tablets; I crushed the tablet between spoons and sprinkled peroxide on the washed wound. To this day I am grateful to this doctor. It was thirsty instantly! Only I didn’t cover the wound with streptocide with anything.

Answer: If you have varicose veins, nothing will help! at my dad's varicose veins He also applied ointment to the veins, applied lotions, and so on! didn't help! After he could practically no longer walk, his leg became numb, he had surgery! and now the swelling has subsided, he walks without problems, the numbness is gone! My advice to you is to consult a doctor rather than self-medicate!

Q. Is there anything else that can be used besides chitosan?

A. Not in in this case, this is as fast and efficient as possible. It is necessary to observe food discipline, you cannot eat salty foods, marinades, smoked foods, fatty meats, animal fats, salt consumption, limit the concentration of salt, as well as sweets. In her position, it is impossible with her vessels; salt and sugar have the same destructive effect on the vessels. You can try quality olive oil first squeeze, a teaspoon in the morning on an empty stomach, not necessarily daily, but regularly, constantly drink water in small sips, every 15-20 minutes. In the future, immediately treat any wounds with hydrogen peroxide, but have chitosan in your first aid kit.

Hello!
As a child, I was constantly covered in abrasions and bruises (after active games in the yard), but everything always healed very quickly. But from the age of 16, I began to notice that the wounds began to heal longer than usual. Now this is a total problem. If I suddenly scratch myself somewhere, the redness around that place lasts for a very long time, sometimes up to two weeks. And then, when the scratch heals completely, a brownish mark remains, which fades into best case scenario in a month.
Why is this happening? And how to improve skin regeneration?

Comments: 9 »

    Most likely, your body lacks some vitamins, which is why the wounds do not heal for a long time. Immunity is weakened. There are many different medications to increase immunity, but it is better if the doctor prescribes them individually.

    Metabolism is to blame. Well, vitamin C is very beneficial for the skin, so I advise you to eat more oranges and tangerines to regenerate it.

    There could be many different reasons.
    Do you have relatives in your family with diabetes mellitus? Get a blood test, maybe the cause is high blood sugar.
    Perhaps it is a lack of vitamins or an excess of harmful substances.
    Or your metabolism has slowed down.
    The level of platelets, which are responsible for blood clotting, may have dropped.

    With age, many things change in the body. The body's protective functions are no longer the same as in youth. My wounds also began to heal worse. I keep sea buckthorn oil at home - everything goes away quickly if you spread it on it.

    Perhaps the body lacks some vitamins. I would also recommend treating wounds with a good antiseptic, because an infection can also prevent wounds from healing. I treat it with sulfargin, this ointment contains silver ions and is good at drawing out infection from the wound and keeping the wound from getting infected, and also relieves inflammation. Due to this, wounds heal faster.

    same problem. two weeks ago I injured my leg in nature, it still hasn’t healed(

    I agree with the girls. Maybe, indeed, there is simply something missing in the body. And I can recommend to Rita to buy Sulfargin ointment, it’s very healthy, really. with her, really, all sores in the form of wounds, abrasions and cuts heal instantly

Every person in the course of daily activities receives minor cuts, cracks, abrasions, minor burns or other superficial wounds skin. These small wounds are often very annoying, without being serious enough injuries to warrant a visit to the doctor. Typically, these changes are not dangerous, but can cause great discomfort. This is why it is very important to speed up the healing process. So how can you heal a wound quickly?

Acute and chronic wounds

Wounds are divided into acute and chronic. Acute ones occur after cuts or operations. These wounds heal quickly (2-7 days) and, if properly cared for, are not a serious problem. Chronic wounds, those that do not heal within a week, even despite maintaining hygiene. In this situation, it becomes necessary not only to treat wounds, but, above all, to find the reasons for this. Wounds that do not heal may indicate a serious illness in the body.

Chronic wounds more often affect older people. There may be several reasons. Worse tissue regeneration, inability of the elderly to treat the wound, serious illnesses, for example, does not respond well to wound treatment in diabetes (constantly increased level blood sugar leads to arterial damage, a process that results in injury and even foot amputation) or venous insufficiency when the wounds are the result of a nutritional disorder of the leg tissues.
A wound that does not heal within two weeks should be cause for concern. Especially when there is additional symptoms- redness, swelling or pain that indicates infection or inflammation. You should then immediately go to the doctor to determine the cause. How earlier treatment carried out, the greater the chance for rapid healing.

  • 1. Formation of wounds

In order to understand what are the possibilities for accelerating the process and what substances can affect the healing process, it is worth referring to the individual stages of the process. Damage to the skin triggers an inflammatory response, which leads to the accumulation of fluid on the surface, which contains, among other things, growth factors, and whose main function is to stimulate proliferation and migration immune cells to the wound area. These substances work best in a moist environment, and drying an open wound will significantly prolong the healing process. Under the influence of the above factors, epithelial cells and intact hair follicles grow, covering the site of injury and leads to the formation of new epithelium covering the wound. In this case, the wound heals without scars.

  • 2. Stages of wound healing

As we can see, the healing process is complex and involves many of our body's defense and regeneration mechanisms.

First of all, it is very important for the healing process proper cleansing wounds. The skin should be cleansed under the jet cold water or an inert liquid, such as saline. The use of substances containing alcohol, iodine to clean damaged skin is not advisable, and the use of such compositions can further irritate the skin and cause large wounds. In addition, such opening of the wound causes drying, which delays the regeneration process of the epidermis and makes it an easy target for microbes. To speed up the healing process, keeping the wound surface moist is important. This environment delays crust formation. After cleaning the wound, it is worth applying a substance that provides a moist environment in the area of ​​damaged skin.

Several types of bacteria always live on human skin, which usually do not pose a danger to the body, but when the skin is damaged, there is a risk of infection. In addition, in the case of wounds, abrasions and burns, we are exposed to a number of bacteria in the external environment. That is why the drug applied to the wound surface must have antibacterial properties.

  • 3. Accelerate wound healing

A good choice for those minor skin lesions combination drug, in the form of an ointment for topical application to the skin. Dosage form provides sufficient moisture to the wound so that the healing process continues as quickly as possible. It is desirable that such a composition has a composition of active substances with antibacterial activity. The influence of antibiotics reduces the risk of the emergence of resistant strains.

Stages of healing

Wounds, scratches, cuts happen every day. To make it easier to understand first aid in such cases, you should know the four stages of treatment:

1. Inflammation

Direct defensive reaction body to any injury - this is an expansion blood vessels to speed up the transport of blood to damaged tissue - blood vessels become more permeable, allowing fluids and white blood cells (leukocytes) to be transferred from the blood to the tissues. Increased blood flow causes unpleasant but transient symptoms:

  • - increase in tissue temperature due to increased blood circulation;
  • - redness due to vasodilation (dilation of blood vessels);
  • - swelling caused by exudation of blood to the tissues;
  • - pain due to increased tension and excess fluid in the tissues.

2. Thrombus

After a wound, for at least 10 minutes, depending on the extent of the injury, the body forms a clot (thrombus) that connects the edges of the wound to prevent excessive blood loss.

3. Removal of dead tissue.

White blood cells begin the process of absorbing microorganisms, dead cells and foreign substances, after cleaning the wound area. The damaged cells then release chemicals to stimulate blood flow and attract more white blood cells to the site of injury. Dead white blood cells containing excess microorganisms and decomposition products are partially removed through lymphatic system and partially form purulent discharge.

4. Wound healing.

In the following days general fabrics and epithelium grow to replace the damaged skin surface. In case of extensive injuries, a scar forms over the entire surface of the wound. The immune system and white blood cells play another important role - they produce antibodies that help the body fight infection. Therefore, the healing process goes smoothly if general condition The patient's health is good. A weakened immune system significantly reduces the body's ability to fight infections and impairs wound healing. Fever, which occurs with extensive injuries from infection, is part of a defense mechanism - it helps fight infection (increased body temperature does not promote the development of harmful microorganisms) and speeds up the healing process (fever increases blood flow and nutrients in the area of ​​damage).

First aid

  • - Stop bleeding

A bleeding wound requires immediate application of direct pressure. Place a piece of clean material that absorbs moisture, such as gauze bandages, towels or a napkin, over the wound site and press firmly. If possible, the victim himself should clamp the wound, because he knows better with what force to do this. In general, pressure stops bleeding within 1-2 minutes. If blood leaks out, apply another layer of material and continue applying pressure. On open wounds It is safe to use a sterile compress. Very heavy bleeding can be quickly stopped using a hemostatic agent.

  • – Reduced pressure in damaged blood vessels

Wounds should be treated as soon as possible to prevent infection and skin trauma. The entire area around the injury site is washed with soap and water, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic or water. This reduces the number of bacteria, foreign objects and dead tissue fragments that threaten the wound. The wound (wound surface) should be carefully washed with water and gauze or a cotton swab 2 times a day, from the wound outward, to avoid infection by skin bacteria. Then apply the patch and leave it overnight. The patch should only be applied when the wound is wet.

  • — Wound dressings

Exposure to air causes crusting to form, which slows down the process of growing new cells. Therefore, a sterile bandage with plastic or gauze coated with Vaseline is applied to the wound. This prevents the wound from drying out and allows a small amount of air to flow in. Cell regeneration is faster in moist tissues.
After the bleeding stops, wrap the wound with an elastic bandage in the right direction - the blood should flow freely. The bandage must be controlled; it should not interfere with blood circulation.

Ways to accelerate wound healing


In modern restorative medicine Hygiene without the use of chemicals is preferred. The method of maintaining hygiene affects the rate of healing of all skin lesions. Chemical cleaning of the wound with products (soaps, gels, shampoos, etc.) can irritate the wound and delay the healing process, but cleaning is necessary to prevent the development of secondary infection.
Therefore, the original solution is to maintain daily hygiene using the natural air-water sterilizing effect. Thanks to this, the healing process proceeds without interference, is enhanced and occurs much faster. In addition, microbubbles perform a unique micro-massage that stimulates blood flow within the wound. For these reasons, consistent use of microbubbles in daily hygiene significantly reduces the appearance of scars.
Japanese water nanotechnology experts have developed and patented home generators of medicinal bubbles in the form of shower heads and systems, bath faucets.

Traditional medicine for healing

Herbal infusions and oils can be added to the bath to further enhance the therapeutic effect.

Wound healing herbs.
The compress is soaked in a cooled and strained herbal solution and then applied to the wound. Recommended tinctures: nettle, sage, yarrow and St. John's wort.
Ointment for wounds.
The best ointments are those containing antibiotics. wide range actions, for example, Fenistil or Bipanten. People using antibacterial ointments show 30% faster healing and less scarring. Popular ointments containing preservatives can cause allergies - redness and itching around the wound, which can cause a secondary infection. Preparations containing components are the best alternative For local treatment wounds pharmaceuticals. Recommended: green clay, honey, ointments based on echinacea, arnica, calendula and oregano, broom oil, coconut oil, argan oil and essential oils to support wound healing:

  • rosemary oil;
  • bergamot essential oil;
  • patchouli oil;
  • rose oil;
  • geranium oil

Allantoin facilitates the separation of necrotic tissue and wound cleansing, stimulates the epidermal mucous membranes and skin. Hyaluronic acid as a skin component plays a key role in all stages of wound healing: it accelerates wound scarring and clot formation (at least 3 times faster). Promotes epidermis renewal. Hyaluronate containing preparations are recommended as a supplement for the healing of all types of wounds.

You should contact a DOCTOR in the following cases::

  • - the blood from the wound is pulsating and its color is light red - this may be due to damage to the artery;
  • - it is not possible to remove all foreign bodies from the wound;
  • - injury to a place where there should not be a scar, for example, the face;
  • — there is pus around the wound or redness at the edges of the wound wider than a finger;
  • - a large wound in which the bottom is visible - it needs to be stitched up!
  • - the wound is deep and can cause damage to blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments and/or muscles (for example, puncture wounds.)
  • - wound caused by a bullet - gunshot wound;
  • - any wound on the head, serious wounds to the abdomen and chest;
  • - the injury does not begin to heal within 24 hours;
  • - Anti-tetanus injections are needed. A large surface of the wound and its contamination with earth, objects that were in the ground, and dust are indications for the administration of anti-tetanus serum. If you don't remember the last time you received a vaccine dose, be sure to see a doctor on the day of your injury!

If the wound does not heal - reasons

It is true that chronic wounds are difficult to heal, especially in older people. However, problems with the wound are often associated with non-compliance with the rules of behavior - the wrong choice of hygiene, medication or neglect of them. Very often, therapeutic measures are aimed only at the wound, and not at removing the cause. And this is a mistake! Wound healing depends primarily on the underlying disease.

The most common mistakes that prevent wounds from healing are changing dressings too often.

The rule is this: the dressing should be changed as often as necessary and as little as possible. In the case of chronic wounds, it is changed once a week, and in case of copious discharge from the wound - every 2-3 days. Frequent changes damage new, soft tissue and destroy reparative processes.

The second mistake is pouring disinfectant liquids into the wound (for example, hydrogen peroxide or salicylic alcohol, as well as iodine).

Wounds are also not treated with antibiotics. Specified disinfectants and antibiotics damage healthy cells and slow wound healing.

The safest wound environment is normal saline and medications that prevent the entry of pathogens and infections from outside without damaging the wound environment. Vaseline or zinc-based ointment also cannot be classified as good decision. They are used only to protect the skin around the wound.

  • 1. Wounds are washed saline solution, 0.9% or Ringer's solution. You should not use disinfectants - alcohol, iodine or hydrogen peroxide, because they destroy the newly formed, very delicate skin and granulation tissues that are newly formed.
  • 2. Avoid frequent and excessive application of ointments, creams and gels to the wound (without consulting a doctor).
  • 3. The wound should be in a moist environment, thanks to modern dressings. They do not stick to the wound surface and therefore do not cause tissue damage or pain.
  • 4. The skin around the wound is nourished with preparations with a slightly acidic pH, which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria.
  • 5. The wound should not have any contact with clothing and the dressing should be placed so as to prevent contamination.
  • 6. Depending on the stage of healing, the doctor indicates the frequency of changing the dressings, preferably once a week.

Preparations for rapid wound healing

There are hundreds of different types of drugs. They can be divided into the following types:

  • hydrogels (for example Intrasitegel, aquagel) - capable of absorbing exudate, maintaining high humidity, and also having cleansing properties, which leads to hydration of necrotic tissues;
  • hydrocolloids (for example Granuflex, Tegasorb), which are in the form of layered plates and upon contact with exudate form a gel, which occurs during the granulation process;
  • dextromers (for example, Acudex, Debrisan) - dressing materials consisting of polysaccharide grains that form a gel upon contact with wound exudate; used to treat large, deep and infected bedsores;
  • alginates dressings (for example, Kaltrostat, Tegagel.) - Dressings, natural polysaccharides obtained from seaweed with very high absorbent properties;
  • semi-permeable polyurethane film (for example, Opsite, Tegaderm.) - Capable of ensuring free evaporation of wound exudate from the surface, but not permeable to water and bacteria from the outside.

How to speed up wound healing?

1. Medicines, applied topically

The classic patch or bandage has now been replaced by so-called hydrocolloid dressings. Preparations of this type Fenistil for wounds. Hydrocolloid acid creates optimal conditions for wound healing. Provides sufficient moisture to dry wounds, absorbs excess wound exudate, protects against external factors. As a result, the dressing hydrocolloid accelerates tissue repair and reduces scar formation. Such a dressing can be applied to the wound surface, such as minor abrasions, cuts and wounds - bedsores. They should not, however, be applied to purulent wounds. The drugs are applied directly to the wound. In addition, you can apply a regular bandage or plaster on top.

To speed up the healing of serious wounds, Solcoseryl is prescribed in the form of a gel on a wet wound and Solcoseryl ointment on a dry wound and Curiosin gel. The drugs are applied to the cleaned wound 2 times a day. The active ingredient of Solcoseryl is dialysate from the blood of calves, which facilitates access of oxygen and nutrients to the cells inside the wound. In Kuriozin active ingredient Zinc hyaluronate - ensures adequate hydration and an appropriate response of inflammatory cells.

For slow healing purulent wounds Drugs can be used to speed up cleaning. Ichthyol ointment has an anti-inflammatory effect, slightly astringent. It can be used for boils, 2-3 times a day. Medicines may temporarily irritate the skin.

The new skin that forms must be properly hydrated and nourished from the outside. It is necessary to use ointments or moisturizing creams with allantoin (Alantan), dexpanthenol (Bephanten, Dermopanten), vitamin ointments. The creams are safe and can be used several times a day for adults and children.

2. Diet and nutritional supplements to speed up healing

For larger cuts, surgical wounds, it is important to supplement the amount of vitamin C in the body. It participates, together with the amino acids lysine and proline, in the formation of collagen, which is a kind of scaffolding for cells. The body cannot synthesize vitamin C and lysine, so it must be obtained through diet. Lysine-rich foods include hard cheeses, legumes, fish, and meat. Take vitamin C supplements with a high content - 1 g, preferably of natural origin.

Before operations, as well as to promote skin regeneration, it is worth enriching your diet with omega-3 preparations, taking linseed oil, B vitamins, especially vitamin B5, vitamin A and E.

What can you eat to speed up healing?

Carnosine.
One thing to keep in mind is that the wound healing process is supported by carnosine. Typically, the main source of carnosine is beef and pork. If, however, according to various reasons, the patient cannot eat meat, he must take drugs containing carnosine. Carnosine is thought to aid in the healing of bedsores (and prevent the formation of new bedsores), but it actually helps in the healing of all wounds. Colostrum, or the first milk that is produced after childbirth, is a unique immune support system. Colostrum accelerates the healing of all types of wounds.